The Institute of Couriers recently ran a workshop day for a transport and logistics employers in the East Midlands, collaboration and solutions for the 2020 workforce.’ The session was a coalition between the LEPs, key note speakers from D2N2 chair Peter Richardson and LLEP Corin Crane. Employers, trade bodies IOC, FTA, CILT and training providers to solve the driver workforce shortage in the geographic Leicester through Derby to Nottingham.
Carl Lomas IOC chairman: “The day put the dooers at the table and focused on the employers who need workforce. Our sector needs drivers and we need everyone’s help to deliver them with skills useable on the road in the real world. Are we ready for a coalition of bids for the next European money that can support our sector?”
Andrew Hartley, System Assist, “For me the day gave clear vision that a coalition of efforts is needed to drive forward solutions for the workforce need.”
The 2015 LEP strategy reports identified roads as a key issue and the day opened with news of the Highways Agency invests £1.8bn pounds in Midlands roads, setting a very positive tone to the event.
Expert advice lectures were delivered by Andrew Hartley, Assist System, John Dilks for Two Way street Inst of Education, Diesel dirivatives by Clydesdale Bank, Chaz Wright DFT, Alex Farkas DWP. There was an academic view on the statistics from Manchester Met Univ, Derby and LMU, with Dr Johnathon Gorst speaking on return logistics for Sheffield Hallam University.
The centre of the conference event was employers. The employer showcase round table discussions delivered heartfelt issues: “What is logistics, how do we attract individuals, how do we train them, and how do they get their licence?”
Simon Nelson Distribution, Belper, Carly Balls – JC Balls Ripley, Allison Kemp – AIM chaired by Prof Tracey Worth London Met Univ, in a strong exchange of employer views,
Simon Nelson: “The elephant in the room is the driver shortage, we have worked locally but nationally this is a huge issue and we need a national initiative for driver training. We deliver to Jaguar Land rover 24 hours a day, Valliant boilers across the UK, if we don’t deliver at the right time to the right place we effect local economy. Sadly we only have one female driver, facilities are poor for female drivers, this is a serious issue and again we need a national solution. We do pallets and those to a home location are a big challenge, pump truck to a house is really hard.”
Allison Kemp: “What is logistics? If you say logistics to someone outside the industry they don’t know what it is. We need to break down the term of logistics, we need to attract people with a clearer message. I learned in the industry, we need good foundations for our next generation, we need learning from the delivery floor to the driver on the road. My own lad is involved in the sector but today the first barrier is the insurance saying you cannot have a youngster in the cab. We need to get focussed on our industry and tell the school age this is what our industry is about. To cross barriers and build bridges between office and drivers we bring office into the driver’s cab to see what really happens on the road.
Carly Balls: “We are struggling to get skilled drivers in for six and eight wheel tippers, new drivers who have passed their test rarely seem to have skills to be a real world driver, there is more to a licence than just passing at test, we have to explain driver hours. We are also struggling for mechanics, there is nowhere in Derbyshire for a youngsters to get trainees. We have a 16 year old who has to travel to Coalville for HGV training. Office staff who have transport knowledge are also key to our need. ‘‘There is so much more for our drivers to do, licence hours, tacho, various licences, it’s all hard steps and barriers against new people entering our sector. We also run plant, every child chooses a digger as their first driving target.”
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